Coley gutted at late drama

Stanley boss John Coleman was gutted after his side missed two injury-time penalties to lose 2-1 to nine-men Cambridge.

Leon Legge gave United a 14th minute lead before Billy Kee tapped home his fifth goal of the season on 51 minutes to equalise.

Rommy Boco hit the post in the 78th minute and then ex-Red Piero Mingoia volleyed home what turned out to be the winner on 81 minutes.

Then came the late drama when sub Terry Gornell was fouled in the area on 90 minutes but fellow sub Chris Eagles saw his penalty saved by Will Norris – Cambridge captain Legge saw red for the incident.

A minute later, ex-Stanley loan defender Brad Halliday kept Matty Pearson’s goalbound header out with his hand and he was sent off with Gornell seeing his penalty saved as well.

“It’s disappointing,” said Coleman. “Matty’s header was going in and they benefit from handling on the line and that’s hard to take.

“No one misses penalties on purpose and both hit the target but they weren’t the best penalties in the world.

“It’s unusual for both your subs to take them but Billy (Kee) is our usual penalty taker and he said he was carrying a knock and didn’t feel he could kick the ball.

“Both Terry and Chris are experienced players and you can’t complain as they stepped up to the plate.

“I am more disappointed with the way we responded to the equaliser. We came out well after the break and levelled the scores and should have gone on and won it.

“But give Cambridge their due they upped their game for 25 minutes without creating much and they pushed us back.

“Then ironically we have our best chance and hit the inside of the post and they break and score.

“We had kept Piero quiet but it’s Sod’s Law that he had to be the player to make the first one and score the winner.

“On another day we would have won the game but that’s football. You can’t cry and you can’t throw your toys out of the pram and you have got to learn from it.”